South Korea Expands Jeju No-Fishing Zone: Trawler Limit Raised from 6 to 40 Nautical Miles
To curb overfishing in coastal waters, South Korea has decided to significantly expand the no-fishing zones around Jeju, raising the operating restrictions for trawlers, large light-fishing vessels and trap gear respectively.
According to a Fishnews.ru report, South Korea has decided to expand the no-fishing zones along the Jeju coast to stop fishermen from overfishing these waters.
The adjusted no-fishing zones vary by fishing method: the restricted distance for trawlers has been expanded from 6 to 40 nautical miles; for large fishing vessels operating with lights, from 3 to 12 nautical miles; and for fishermen using various types of trap gear, from 1.5 to 12 nautical miles.
Jeju Island's fisheries have traditionally been regarded as a priority for the local economy, the report said. With the development of tourism, this biologically rich stretch of water has begun to attract investors more willing to put their money into "scenery" than into fishing and production.
However, South Korean experts believe that for trap-gear operations, a 3-nautical-mile no-fishing zone is already sufficient, so as to avoid bankrupting fishing villages—which are themselves a major attraction drawing domestic and international tourists to Jeju.
The report is dated December 22, 2006.